Nobody — except EN’s elusive founder/publisher John — knows how all this chinchilla business got started. It’s simply been a part of EN since the very beginning, almost 10 years ago, and it’s taken on a life of its own.

Over the years he has been groped by riders, stuffed into trophies, strangled by Olympians, wet-willied by dogs, force-fed booze, hurled through the air, given the stink-eye by people who just don’t get it, eaten alive by cross-country jumps, propped up at press conferences and mobbed by fans.

From national championships to four-star events (he’s been to them all except Adelaide — 2017 goal?) to the Olympic Games, we have shamelessly pimped him out on social media, exploiting his complete and total inability to defend himself against our paparazzi tactics. Because, you know, he’s a stuffed animal.

But what is the story behind Chinch, anyway? Why is the mascot of an eventing website a … chinchilla? Only one person on this earth knows, John, and he’s not saying. But that won’t stop our imaginations!

At the distinctly Chinch-themed EN Rolex Tailgate Party we asked readers to submit their best conspiracy theories for a chance to win one of three prize buckets from our friends at Cavalor!

The grand prize winners, selected by John and a committee of Lexington craft brew beers, are as follows…

The Bobby Meyerhoff crew stopped by the EN Tailgate Party to deliver a custom “Insanity in the Middle” hat for chinch. Perfect! And job well done to Bobby, who finished the course on a day when many did not, just two-and-a-half weeks after being hospitalized for two fractured ribs and pneumothorax after a xc schooling fall. That’s eventer tough! Photo: EN.

It’s a Rolex tradition to enjoy leftover EN cookie cake in the media center after our tailgate! It wouldn’t be cross country day at Rolex without Marty Bauman at the helm. Thank you, Marty, for all you do! Photo: EN.

Horcrux, spirit animal … seems plausible. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Chinch enjoying a champagne toast with Maxime Livio. Photo: EN.

Chinch smooch sandwich! Photo: Kelly Yoder.

“Caught up with Chinch, we talked about Fetty and Waka and shared some Champagne!” Photo: Devon Olivier.